The United States presented a proposal to the UN Security Council on Friday that would have proclaimed "the imperative of an immediate and sustained cease-fire" in the Israel-Hamas conflict; however, Russia and China vetoed it. Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, said that the council has to "demand" a cease-fire since the proposed text did not go far enough.
The vote took place as Secretary of State Antony Blinken touched down in Tel Aviv on Friday, capping up his sixth hurried visit to the area since the war's inception.
Russia and China deliberately blocked the U.S. resolution, according to Blinken, despite the resolution having extremely significant support.
"I think we were trying to show the international community a sense of urgency about getting a cease-fire tied to the release of hostages — something that everyone, including the countries that vetoed the resolution, should have been able to get behind," he said. Naturally, the resolution also denounced Hamas. The reason why nations could not do it is inconceivable."
Blinken added that he was having meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the war cabinet "to have candid conversations, as friends do," and to press for alternatives to Israel's proposed military attack into the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Blinken told reporters in Cairo on Thursday that "a major ground operation there would mean more civilian deaths, it would worsen the humanitarian crisis." "There is a better way to deal with the threat, the ongoing threat posed by Hamas."
Leaders of the European Union issued a statement tonight urging "an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and the provision of humanitarian assistance."
As a result of the food shortage that has been permitted into Gaza, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday that up to 60% of children under the age of five are now malnourished, compared to less than 1% before to the start of the conflict.
The Gaza Health Ministry, under Hamas control, said on Thursday that there had been close to 32,000 Palestinian deaths in the region. The ministry reports that two-thirds of the deceased are women and children, but it does not separate its death toll between fighters and civilians.
In the surprise strike that started the conflict on October 7th, out of Gaza, Palestinian terrorists murdered almost 1,200 people and kidnapped another 250. It is still estimated that around one hundred persons and the bodies of thirty more are being held captive by Hamas.
The vote took place as Secretary of State Antony Blinken touched down in Tel Aviv on Friday, capping up his sixth hurried visit to the area since the war's inception.
Russia and China deliberately blocked the U.S. resolution, according to Blinken, despite the resolution having extremely significant support.
"I think we were trying to show the international community a sense of urgency about getting a cease-fire tied to the release of hostages — something that everyone, including the countries that vetoed the resolution, should have been able to get behind," he said. Naturally, the resolution also denounced Hamas. The reason why nations could not do it is inconceivable."
Blinken added that he was having meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the war cabinet "to have candid conversations, as friends do," and to press for alternatives to Israel's proposed military attack into the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Blinken told reporters in Cairo on Thursday that "a major ground operation there would mean more civilian deaths, it would worsen the humanitarian crisis." "There is a better way to deal with the threat, the ongoing threat posed by Hamas."
Leaders of the European Union issued a statement tonight urging "an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and the provision of humanitarian assistance."
As a result of the food shortage that has been permitted into Gaza, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday that up to 60% of children under the age of five are now malnourished, compared to less than 1% before to the start of the conflict.
The Gaza Health Ministry, under Hamas control, said on Thursday that there had been close to 32,000 Palestinian deaths in the region. The ministry reports that two-thirds of the deceased are women and children, but it does not separate its death toll between fighters and civilians.
In the surprise strike that started the conflict on October 7th, out of Gaza, Palestinian terrorists murdered almost 1,200 people and kidnapped another 250. It is still estimated that around one hundred persons and the bodies of thirty more are being held captive by Hamas.
